ZIP code
28092
in Lincolnton, North CarolinaPopulation 40,350
49.26/ 100
Ranked #17,302 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #424 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #75 of 113 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
PFAS in drinking water
63.1%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS86thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
Lincolnton, North Carolina (ZIP 28092), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 46% nationally (17,302nd) and the bottom 47% of North Carolina (424th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic sits in the bottom 9.7% nationally, mental-health providers registers in the top 10.5% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 11.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Grocery settles in the top 14.5% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas stands in the top 6.8% nationally, and disaster risk is in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 13.9% nationally.
In everyday language, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 28037, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.7 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $60,984 predicts 78.1 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,401 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28016
North Carolinashares a border
Score 42.37
Closest healthier
28037
North Carolinashares a border
Score 61.40
Similar health profile
27295
North Carolina98% similar profile
Score 49.23
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 30.1% | 26.8–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 34.4–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.0% | 22.5–30.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.6% | 33.4–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.6% | 29.1–44.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.7–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.7% | 12.8–18.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.8–12.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 75.0–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 75.6–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.4–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.1% | 60.1–69.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.7% | 58.0–65.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 69.3–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.6–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.7% | 21.7–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.2% | 28.0–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.6% | 18.2–23.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.7–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.4% | 30.3–38.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.1–17.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.3–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.3–17.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 28.0–37.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 49.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 42.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $60,984 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $245,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $996 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $957 ($715–$1,575) n=687 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 75.7 yr ± 0.51 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.3 yr (74.6–80.8) n=747 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.51 years of 75.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured